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| Baco and June |
Of all the dogs I have had, June has been the hardest to let go. In a breed known for high energy and spirits, she was at the top of that curve. In her younger days, every time I would complain about her drive my husband would remind me that's what I said I wanted in a Toller. Which is true! Sometimes I think our bond was so tight because she was so challenging. In her later years, she was my entourage and would follow me around the house to see what I was up to. She would push the bathroom door open when I was in the shower. When I was out walking another dog, I knew she was feeling good on the days she would be at the backdoor, barking a greeting as I returned.I said a lot about June 10 years ago that bears review: https://lifeamongtollers.blogspot.com/2011/03/all-about-june.html
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| June in April of 2020 |
Around the age of 12, I had to retire her from agility. When she was young she had an ACL tear that we rested and rehabbed, but we knew at some point arthritis would become an issue. Thanksgiving weekend of 2019 she seemed to be in a lot of pain and I thought we would lose her. Until then we had been managing with gabapentin, supplements, and regular visits to the canine chiropractor. Working with my vet, prednisone was added to her mix of medications. Miraculously, this bought her another year of pretty good quality of life, though we were always conscious of being on borrowed time with her. I was unable to completely wean her from the drug, and in the past few months the long-term effects of prednisone took their toll and her bad days slowly became more numerous than her good days. Though it was heartbreakingly hard to let her go neither could I bear to see her suffer. As much as I love my other Tollers that have come before and after her, there is no question June was my heart dog. Her loss is profound.
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| June on her 15th birthday |
